Vivian
My cabin did not have room for two Quadmos, three Arielnas, a Pyran, and little old me—but fuck if we didn’t make it work that night.
Blankets were scattered across the entirety of my bedroom floor.
The table was rolled onto its side and held up by the log stools in the kitchen.
When I’d woken up in the middle of the night to pee, it’d been like a damn obstacle course to get to the bathroom.
By the time I’d returned to my bed, somebody had started snoring like a chainsaw, making my attempts to fall back asleep nearly futile.
I woke up exhausted, but I’d never felt safer.
Less alone. The irony wasn’t lost on me that I’d run away from daddy dearest's murder den only to end up surrounded by hitmen, but at least these guys weren’t evil.
Ida and I were the last ones remaining in the cabin the next morning. She was smitten with Nurghle and saying a proper goodbye to him before leaving. Nurghle’s no-thoughts little head was cradled in her palms while she told him to behave himself.
“Hey Ida, before you go, can I ask you something?”
She broke eye contact with my cat to look at me. “Sure you can.”
“Are you happy in Drifael? Like… is being there everything you dreamed of?”
It was a big change from where she’d lived her entire life, and I couldn’t help but worry it might be a “more romantic in theory than practice” thing. That she may get homesick for her old cabin. It had all happened so fast, there wasn’t much time to second guess the decision.
She smiled, her eyes creasing warmly at their corners.
“I would’ve been fine staying in the cabin until my dying days, Vivian.
But I’m better in Drifael. Business is so good I’ll have enough money to buy Theo’s ‘spare home’ off him by the end of summer.
” She winked at me, a reminder that Theo’s well-intended attempt at being subtle hadn’t fooled anybody.
“I can see people whenever I want. I’ve reconnected with old friends.
If I get bored, I can just get up and walk to the market. I’m in my prime.”
I returned her smile and leaned forward on the mattress we were seated on for a hug. A jealous Nurghle meowed to our sides.
“Is having a home everything you hoped it would be, Vivian?”
“Everything and more.”
Our hearts full from our moment alone, we stepped outside to join the group about to head on their way. I passed out satchels of blackberries as parting gifts.
“Is there anything you guys need before we go back to Virylan?” Mykie asked. “Ragen and I can afford one more supplies run before Arne tracks us down and asks what the fuck is taking so long.”
“How’d you get so much time off anyways?” Theo laughed.
“Visiting the only known field occupied by a goddess when there’s a potential crisis?” Mykie raised a scaled brow. “We’re on the clock.”
“Actually, if you don’t mind—” I cut in self-consciously. “Could you bring us some meat?”
“I thought you couldn’t eat meat?” Mykie reflected, her head tilting curiously. “Is Theo afraid to dirty his hands these days and hunt for you?”
I was surprised to hear a growl come from Theo in response. It must have struck a nerve—being accused of failing to provide.
“No, no!” I objected, patting his chest with my hand to soothe him. “But nothing on this mountain really bleeds, and the forest creatures begging for food make me sad.” I realized how ridiculous I sounded as I said the words, but they were out there.
An amused, toothy grin spanned Mykie’s face. “I see why you guys work so well together, Theo. This goddess is fucking insane.” It was said affectionately. “Sure, babe, we’ll bring you some meat for your backyard monsters. Anything you want?”
“Paint brushes,” Theo cut in. “And maybe some paint if you have the room.”
“Oh! Yes!” I beamed. “That would be incredible!”
“Raw meat and painting supplies, coming right up."
I was having trouble settling after another eventful day. Mykie and Ragen had returned with supplies, opting not to spend the night this time in the name of getting back to Virylan sooner.
Painting had commenced immediately. Supplies were limited, so I focused on what made the biggest impact.
I’d picked a smokey gray color for the front door to complement the blackberry-stained walls.
Once it’d gotten too dark to see my handiwork, I moved inside to paint our cabinets the same color.
They were filled to the brim with salted meats in jars.
Ragen, much like Theo, was a living moving truck.
Mykie had strapped that man to the limit with supplies, including things we didn’t ask for, like a whole ass washing tub.
Theo was already trying to find a way to expand the cabin to accommodate the addition, since I’d been so excited about the notion of baths.
Afterall, we had nothing but time on our hands to dick around and make this field our own.
I might eventually have a hand-built castle here if I truly lived forever.
I was skeptical immortality was on the table, but still mentally preparing for it. And if I could stop Ida’s hands from aging… who’s to say I couldn’t keep Nurghle and Theo healthy forever too? We needed hobbies and passion projects. Luxuries I never thought I’d have.
Next to me in bed, out cold, Theo stirred against my back. His arms loosened slightly from their hold around my waist and one of his cocks shifted inside of me, not having been removed after the evening’s fucking.
Usually, I could sleep like this just fine.
It was comforting. We liked to feel each other’s heart beats while we slept, sharing a body.
Tonight, however, my mind was racing. I fluctuated between being horny and restless.
I could only roll my hips with him inside of me until I came so many times before my pussy got tired.
I sighed, wiggling slowly out of his loosened hold.
Normally his arms would lock stubbornly, not allowing my escape, but this time I was able to free myself.
His cock slipped out of my pussy and flopped over the other one onto the mattress in a puddle of our combined fluids.
The view in dim lanternlight was so lewd I almost wished I had rocked one more out of myself, but a line had to be drawn somewhere.
I wet a rag in the kitchen to clean myself up.
The cabin was serene, despite the strange noises outside my window.
Some creatures must’ve showed up to check if there was food available.
Normally, Theo handled feedings, but that was before I had a less disturbing option than dead people.
I could handle passing out raw meat, as long as it didn’t come from a person.
I grabbed a large jar from one of the lower shelves and cracked the lid, relieved the contents were basically scentless. I used my free hand to turn the doorknob and pushed it open, barely holding back a scream at what was waiting for me.
Standing on the other side of the wooden stakes—within my field—were a group of nocturnal grove creatures.
Empty eye sockets stared at me. Their mists combined to form one dark cloud floating around bone and blackened connective tissue.
An assortment of antlers towered above them.
They didn’t move. The wooshing of wind through their bones created a low, instrumental hum.
Why were they here?! How were they here?
! My guide clearly stated that creatures intending to kill me couldn’t enter my field.
All the other fuckers in the distance were still standing on the other side of the wheat; I could see the familiar fog and hear their strange cacophony of soft noises.
They’d grown quieter recently… maybe being fed made them less desperate.
The bones of a nameless antlered creature rattled as its head tilted at me, and I was reminded that I was holding their dinner.
I had intended to feed them. Although it felt a little precarious, I made my way cautiously down the wooden steps.
They stayed put, the border of charms still seeming to work, at least.
Once I was within a reasonable tossing distance, I grabbed a few cubes of meat and chucked them toward the strange animals.
Boney maws snapped at the air, the muted red flesh vanishing.
Just like feeding the ducks at a park. If the ducks were nine-foot-tall skeleton creatures with sharp teeth, claws, and ghostly mist.
There was a loud hiss, and I startled.
A black fluffball darted in front of me towards the creatures, passing right through the stakes and letting out a “rrrrooooowwwwwrrrr” battle cry. The monsters fixed their sights on Nurghle, hunching down until they disappeared into the cloud of darkness with him. Only their antlers still visible.
“No!” I screamed. “Don’t touch him!” I dropped the jar to my feet, the contents spilling into the clover.
The creatures’ skulls rose from the mist immediately, and they stepped back. Were they listening to me? Or had my yell scared them? I ran forward to scoop up my stupid, valiant cat from the remaining whisps of cloud.
“If you ever hurt him, we will never feed you again!” I threatened as I stumbled back to safety, my cat in my arms.
It was no surprise when my own roaring monster appeared, fully feral and pushing me behind him.
“It’s okay, Theo,” I exhaled to calm my racing heartbeat, trying to ignore the way Nurghle’s anxious claws were latched into my skin. “They aren’t trying to hurt me.”
“What are they doing inside of your field?” he rumbled.
“I don’t know,” I said, my voice still shaking from the scare, but settling.
What exactly did that stupid “Chicken Noodle Soup for the Goddess Soul” book say?
“Maybe they… don’t want to kill me anymore?
” That was a wild fucking idea. Had we domesticated this specific species of fucker enough for them to no longer see me as food?
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” I whispered more to myself than Theo.
There was a long silence. A stare down. The creatures’ hollow expressions were unmoving just a few of feet away. A truce? A mutual understanding?
Theo growled before stating, “Come with me,” and ushering me further from the stakes. He stopped at the pile of spilled meat, bending over and grabbing a handful of chunks. “Stay here, Viv.”
He stepped through the protective border, coming to a stop to hold a beef-filled fist out. The creatures didn’t move. He took another step forward. Nothing.
“Theo, maybe that’s not the best way to test my theory?!” I called, soothing Nurghle by scratching between his ears.
Theo ignored me, taking another step closer. And another. Skulls ducked towards his hand, and I screamed.
“Theo!” I cried out, rushing towards him.
Before I could get to his side, they’d returned to their positions. He pulled his arm back from the cloud of darkness. There was no meat left, and his palm was untouched.
“I think you may be on to something, Little Goddess.” He sounded bewildered. Theo slowly, cautiously, shifted back to his normal form.
“I… guess I should take Nurghle inside.” It was all so strange. So hard to fathom. But, the proof was staring us in the face. The creatures were standing here, inside my field, and had just licked Theo’s hand clean.
He cleared his throat, his voice returning to normal. “I’ll put some pants on and finish feeding your pets.”